CBP Mock Interview

Practice 35 CBP interview questions covering integrity, law enforcement scenarios, and border security protocols.

Question 22 of 35

Customs and Border Protection maintains a profoundly stringent hiring process. Why should we hire you?

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Example Answer
Community Answers

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

The CBP interview process comes in nine stages:

1. Apply

2. Entrance Exam

3. Qualifications Review

4. Background Investigation

5. Medical Exam

6. Fitness Tests

7. Interview

8. Polygraph Exam

9. Drug Test

The CBP interview process is lengthy, in-depth, and indeed stringent. Mention any career accolades, personal achievements, industry-related training, linguistics, or volunteer work. Put a spotlight on the ways you already embrace CBP ethos. If you can't think of ways that you are unique from other candidates, ask a few friends or family members what they feel sets you apart from others. Their observations may help you understand your most significant contributions and how others perceive you. In an interview, you are your most influential advocate, so be prepared to sell yourself with balanced confidence and humility.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I am confident that, after clearing all stages of the Customs and Border Protection interview process, the hiring authorities will find me to be an ideal candidate. I have spent time learning the CBP ethos, reading through the Standards of Conduct, and learning about the Diversity and Inclusion program in place. In addition to this eager attitude and willingness to learn, I bring skills such as being trilingual and a dual degree in Criminology and Law. These are just a few of the ways that I will contribute to CBP initiatives and represent this esteemed organization with complete enthusiasm."

Interview Coach

Jaymie

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Anonymous Answer

I believe my experience in local law enforcement and education in Criminal Justice would translate well to CBP and make me a quick learner. I further believe that my knowledge in knowing Spanish will be of particular use in CBP due to a large amount of travel coming from Spanish-speaking countries. I believe that those qualities would make me a great candidate for your organization.

Cindy's Feedback

Good start and all good reasons to hire you! You can expand by drawing a connection between the job requirements and these qualities to persuade the interviewer you're right for the job. You can also find information about how to answer these types of interview questions here: https://www.mockquestions.com/articles/How to Answer: Why Should We Hire You?/

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35CBP Interview Questions & Answers

Behavioral

1.Customs and Border Protection agents are on the front lines of guarding the country against illegal activity. How will you meet the mental demands of this job?

Behavioral

2.Customs and Border Protections include 'integrity' in its core values. Talk about a time that you acted with integrity.

Experience

3.How familiar are you with international trade laws and regulations?

Career Goals

4.Customs and Border Protection has land, air, and marine monitoring capabilities. Which division interests you most? Explain why.

Behavioral

5.Why are you choosing a career with Customs and Border Protection? Talk about your most significant motivating factors.

Education

6.Walk us through your post-secondary education and how the knowledge you gained will benefit your career with CBP.

Discovery

7.Have you ever committed a crime, participated in any illegal activity, or maintained inappropriate criminal affiliation by association?

Behavioral

8.What have you done to train and prepare yourself for a role with Customs and Border Protection?

Experience

9.Besides border agents, CBP employs forensic scientists, international trade specialists, public affairs officers, and other specialists. Talk to us about the unique skills you will bring to our agency.

Knowledge

10.What do you know about the Customs and Border Protection Ethos?

Behavioral

11.Have you carefully reviewed the CBP Standards of Conduct? Are there any points of ethical conduct and responsibilities you feel unable to fulfill?

Behavioral

12.All CBP employees must maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and character to gain and maintain the trust of the public. How will you exude this commitment in every interaction with the public?

Experience

13.Certain employee conduct, on and off duty, may be subject to disciplinary action. What actions do you understand to be impermissible?

Leadership

14.Every CBP employee is required to disclose misconduct immediately. How would you approach reporting the actions of others?

Discovery

15.Customs and Border Protection considers the use of prohibited substances a severe matter. Have you ever used, possessed, sold, or distributed illegal drugs?

Behavioral

16.Customs and Border Protection does not tolerate violence or harassment in the workplace. How often do you lose your temper or fail to control your emotions?

Diversity

17.Customs and Border Protection has a robust Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan designed to create an inclusive and engaged workforce. How do you plan to support these efforts?

Knowledge

18.What is a 'pandemic,' and what part do you believe Customs and Border Protection plays in such an event?

Knowledge

19.What do you know about the history of Customs and Border Protection?

Diversity

20.You are on the job and a member of the public calls you a racial slur or derogatory term. What do you do?

Behavioral

21.How do you deal with uncomfortable situations?

Experience

22.Customs and Border Protection maintains a profoundly stringent hiring process. Why should we hire you?

Behavioral

23.Working for Customs and Border Protection can be exceedingly stressful. How will you cope with this intensity on and off the job?

Experience

24.We want to hire employees with a keen interest in public protection and law enforcement. How do you stay up to date on current events that may impact Customs and Border Protection?

Leadership

25.Talk about the ways you demonstrate leadership qualities even when you are not in a leadership role.

Experience

26.We are looking for CBP agents that are bi-lingual in English and Spanish. Do you have any special linguistic skills to mention?

Behavioral

27.Are you willing to consent to the rigorous medical testing required to join the Customs and Border Protection roster?

Diversity

28.Customs and Border Protection offers a diverse workplace community. How have you adapted to serve others of different cultures?

Behavioral

29.Customs and Border Protection agents safeguard our borders. How will your expertise, character, and dedication to our mission be of benefit to our agency?

Leadership

30.On a typical day, Customs and Border Protection seizes thousands of pounds of illegal drugs and makes hundreds of apprehensions. How will you best support your colleagues while managing a perpetually heavy workload?

Experience

31.We have rules for everything here. Tell me about the time you found it difficult to follow the rules.

Experience

32.Have you worked in an environment that demanded a high level of adherence to routine?

Flexibility

33.What is your availability?

Experience

34.What do you consider the toughest aspect of this job?

Behavioral

CBP Mock Interview

Customs and Border Protection maintains a profoundly stringent hiring process. Why should we hire you?

35CBP Interview Questions & Answers

1.Customs and Border Protection agents are on the front lines of guarding the country against illegal activity. How will you meet the mental demands of this job?

2.Customs and Border Protections include 'integrity' in its core values. Talk about a time that you acted with integrity.

3.How familiar are you with international trade laws and regulations?

4.Customs and Border Protection has land, air, and marine monitoring capabilities. Which division interests you most? Explain why.

5.Why are you choosing a career with Customs and Border Protection? Talk about your most significant motivating factors.

6.Walk us through your post-secondary education and how the knowledge you gained will benefit your career with CBP.

7.Have you ever committed a crime, participated in any illegal activity, or maintained inappropriate criminal affiliation by association?

8.What have you done to train and prepare yourself for a role with Customs and Border Protection?

9.Besides border agents, CBP employs forensic scientists, international trade specialists, public affairs officers, and other specialists. Talk to us about the unique skills you will bring to our agency.

10.What do you know about the Customs and Border Protection Ethos?

11.Have you carefully reviewed the CBP Standards of Conduct? Are there any points of ethical conduct and responsibilities you feel unable to fulfill?

12.All CBP employees must maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, and character to gain and maintain the trust of the public. How will you exude this commitment in every interaction with the public?

13.Certain employee conduct, on and off duty, may be subject to disciplinary action. What actions do you understand to be impermissible?

14.Every CBP employee is required to disclose misconduct immediately. How would you approach reporting the actions of others?

15.Customs and Border Protection considers the use of prohibited substances a severe matter. Have you ever used, possessed, sold, or distributed illegal drugs?

16.Customs and Border Protection does not tolerate violence or harassment in the workplace. How often do you lose your temper or fail to control your emotions?

17.Customs and Border Protection has a robust Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan designed to create an inclusive and engaged workforce. How do you plan to support these efforts?

18.What is a 'pandemic,' and what part do you believe Customs and Border Protection plays in such an event?

19.What do you know about the history of Customs and Border Protection?

20.You are on the job and a member of the public calls you a racial slur or derogatory term. What do you do?

21.How do you deal with uncomfortable situations?

22.Customs and Border Protection maintains a profoundly stringent hiring process. Why should we hire you?

23.Working for Customs and Border Protection can be exceedingly stressful. How will you cope with this intensity on and off the job?

24.We want to hire employees with a keen interest in public protection and law enforcement. How do you stay up to date on current events that may impact Customs and Border Protection?

25.Talk about the ways you demonstrate leadership qualities even when you are not in a leadership role.

26.We are looking for CBP agents that are bi-lingual in English and Spanish. Do you have any special linguistic skills to mention?

27.Are you willing to consent to the rigorous medical testing required to join the Customs and Border Protection roster?

28.Customs and Border Protection offers a diverse workplace community. How have you adapted to serve others of different cultures?

29.Customs and Border Protection agents safeguard our borders. How will your expertise, character, and dedication to our mission be of benefit to our agency?

30.On a typical day, Customs and Border Protection seizes thousands of pounds of illegal drugs and makes hundreds of apprehensions. How will you best support your colleagues while managing a perpetually heavy workload?

31.We have rules for everything here. Tell me about the time you found it difficult to follow the rules.

32.Have you worked in an environment that demanded a high level of adherence to routine?

33.What is your availability?

34.What do you consider the toughest aspect of this job?

35.Do you have a role model or mentor?